UAE slams Iran over control of islands

The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday likened Iran's control of three disputed Gulf islands to Israel's occupation of Arab territories."The occupation of any Arab land is an occupation," Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said in a question-and-answer session of the consultative Federal National Council, according to WAM state news agency.

The United Arab Emirates, a key US ally, said it has committed six F-16 and six Mirage fighters to help enforce the no-fly zone over Libya, despite reservations linked to unrest in Bahrain."UAE participation in the patrols will commence in the coming days," Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan announced, quoted by state news agency WAM late on Thursday."In support of UN Resolution 1973, the UAE is fully engaged with humanitarian operations in Libya," he said.

The United Arab Emirates Sunday recognised the National Transitional Council in Benghazi of the rebels battling to oust Moamer Kadhafi, the official WAM news agency reported.The decision to recognise the NTC as the "sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people" was announced by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan, who said the UAE would soon open a provisional office in Benghazi.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, 31 years after their first visit to the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, the state news agency WAM reported."During the visit Her Majesty will attend the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and pay her respects at the tomb of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan," the UAE founding ruler who died in 2004, the British embassy said.She was hosted by Sheikh Zayed on her first visit in 1979, and was invited this time by his son and UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan.

The United Arab Emirates president said on Tuesday that his country's economy is "healthy," even as global markets remained edgy over the debt woes of Dubai, a member of the UAE federation."We would like to comfort everyone that our country today is stronger and better, and that our economy and society are healthy," Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan said in a speech, quoted by state news agency WAM.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan was re-elected president of the United Arab Emirates for a second five-year term on Tuesday, the official news agency WAM announced.The Supreme Federal Council, made up of the rulers of the seven emirates in the UAE, selected Sheikh Khalifa, 61.He first rose to the presidency as oil-rich Abu Dhabi's ruler in 2004 on the death of his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, who founded the Gulf state in 1971.The council designates both the president and vice president.

The United Arab Emirates will respect any sanctions imposed by the United Nations on key trading partner Iran, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said on Saturday."The Emirates will respect any international sanctions that could be imposed by the UN Security Council on Iran," he said at a news conference with visiting Cyprus Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou.But he nevertheless said he hoped the international community will solve its row with Iran "through diplomatic means ... before reaching this phase" of imposing fresh sanctions on Tehran.

Iran on Wednesday reiterated its rule over three disputed Gulf islands and rebuked the United Arab Emirates for comparing Tehran's control to an Israeli occupation."Comments made about the Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf are neither right nor well-considered," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told Mehr news agency."With cooperation within the Islamic world in mind, we have always sought to warn against the main threat in the region which is the regime occupying Al-Quds (Jerusalem)," he said alluding to Israel.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and visiting United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan discussed regional issues including Mideast peace, the State Department said.Nearly one month after their last meeting in London, the two diplomats reaffirmed their commitment "to comprehensive peace, and to the common objective of achieving a two state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security," a Department statement read.

The United Arab Emirates and Germany said on Sunday that Iran must do more to allay the international community's concerns about its nuclear programme or fresh sanctions would be likely.Following a meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said he hoped Iran would cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog."We are very concerned about Iran's non-transparent behaviour with regard to its nuclear programme," he said after talks with his visiting German counterpart, Guido Westerwelle.